Dubai: From spoons to nails to seeds to virtually any material under the sun — these are the non-traditional components of the more than 400 design pieces being exhibited at the first Design Days Dubai expo that opens today.
Design Days Dubai, the Middle East and South Asia's first fair dedicated to collectible and limited edition design, is a four-day fair in Downtown Dubai that aims to provide a venue for local and international designers, budding designers and creative minds to meet.
"Designers in Dubai need space, not mainly as physical space but a platform. We need a platform to give us the opportunity to show the international audience what we can create," Emirati designer Khalid Shafar told Gulf News.
"Today, my pieces are mixed with other designers' pieces. That's an honour, that's something that will not make me stop here; it will make me move forward. So it's something we need like a motivation; to give me an opportunity," Shafar added.
Exhibit of rare pieces
Organised in partnership with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and an integral part of Art Week, Design Days Dubai features rare pieces from 14 countries.
"Every gallery in Design Days Dubai in itself takes you on a journey. We invite you to something like 400 such journeys," Cyril Zammit, fair director, said.
Fair goers are advised to "be curious" and take advantage of the mostly free workshops and lectures during the event.
"We encourage visitors to immerse themselves in the fair or sign themselves in the programme, seek out the galleries and designers. I always tell everyone to stop, to ask, and be curious, and see how these pieces have been made," Zammit said.
Among the pieces that piqued Gulf News' curiosity was the Fragile Future Chandelier, made from LED lights, metal and seeds, and designed by Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nuata from the Netherlands.
"The inspiration came from my girlfriend. She was so fascinated with the reproduction process of a dandelion that she was thinking how to capture this moment," Nuata said.
The concept, which took them five years to perfect, was a combination of nature and technology.
Process behind art
"This combination of nature and technology was kind of really interesting for us because it tells a story of two extremes; they fight each other and they need each other to survive. And that's what's going on in the world at the moment, so that's basically why we kept on developing it," Nuata said.
Twist to local materials
Local materials transformed into rare design pieces can also be seen at the fair. The majlis, for example, was given a different rendition by a group of designers and artisans.
"We came together to provide a hospitality lounge that was suitable for our VIPs, guests. This is our version of the majlis. Four partners have brought this concept together.
"We want to show what materials are available in the market and [what happens] when you bring those materials with designers and emerging talents," Rebecca Mcllwraith, commercial director of Local By Design, said.
INFORMATION
- What: Design Days Dubai
- When: March 18-21
March 18 — Highlights of Design Days Dubai
Ladies Day: In the presence of Shaikha Latifa Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
‘What Design Can Do For the Future' by Li Edelkoort
March 19 — Workshop: Camel Leather Weaving in cooperation with Al Khaznah Tannery
Seminar: The Design Market: Discovering, Collecting & Investing
March 20 — Workshop: Furniture-making using Emirati talli and street materials
Panel discussion: ‘Teaching Design'
March 21 — Mentor sessions with Nada Debs
‘Sit in Shade' UAE student competition 2012
